‘Main maar raha tha na’: KL Rahul on Virat Kohli’s dismissal against Australia – watch video | Cricket News

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul through the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-closing match against Australia in Dubai. (ANI)

During a drinks break within the fortieth over of India’s chase, KL Rahul spoke with Virat Kohli, showing to encourage him to remain on the crease till the tip. With India requiring 65 runs from 60 balls against Australia on Tuesday, KL Rahul took on the function of aggressor on this Champions Trophy semi-closing in Dubai.
Rahul shortly scored a 4 and a six in his subsequent 5 deliveries to ease the strain on Kohli. He then rotated the strike to Kohli when India wanted 40 runs from 45 balls, with Kohli 16 runs away from his 52nd ODI century.
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Kohli, regardless of being in management all through the chase, tried an pointless slog sweep against Adam Zampa and was caught at long-on. This uncharacteristic dismissal visibly annoyed KL Rahul on the non-striker’s finish.
“Main maar raha that naa (I was going after the bowling),” Rahul informed Kohli as he walked previous him.

In the dressing room, coach Gautam Gambhir was additionally left visibly upset and mumbled one thing to the assist workers and gamers seated alongside him.
After the match, KL Rahul revealed his dialog with Kohli. “When I walked in and when I played 10-12 balls I told him that you’re the batter that needs to go on and be there till the end. And let me try and hit or let me try and take one chance an over. Because like you said we only needed 6 runs and over. But 6 runs and over on that wicket seemed like 8-8.5. So, you had to take one chance and over, one boundary or one six,” Rahul informed Star Sports.

“So, I told him that I will do that and why don’t you just rotate the strike and be there because you’re the set batter and it might be harder. If you get out another set batter comes it becomes a lot more harder. But yeah, he felt like it was in his range to hit and yeah he didn’t time it well.”
Rahul maintained his composure and completed unbeaten with 42 runs from 34 balls, securing the victory with a six within the forty ninth over’s first ball. This win superior India to their fifth Champions Trophy closing. Hardik Pandya contributed with a fast 28 runs from 24 balls earlier than his dismissal.
Despite the one mistimed shot, Kohli’s efficiency was distinctive. He shaped an important 91-run partnership for the third wicket with Shreyas Iyer, who scored 45 runs, after the early dismissals of Rohit Sharma (28) and Shubman Gill (9).

Although Australia had been lacking key gamers, India hadn’t defeated them in ICC match knockouts because the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal.
Kohli successfully dealt with leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who had beforehand troubled him. He utilised pull photographs and drives between sweeper cowl and mid-wicket for constant scoring.
After shedding each Iyer and Axar Patel (27) in fast succession, Kohli reached his fifty in 53 balls. Glenn Maxwell dropped a catch when Kohli was on 51 off Cooper Connolly’s bowling.
Kohli’s innings ended when India wanted 40 runs to win, as he hit the ball to Ben Dwarshuis at long-on off Zampa’s bowling.